Chapter 1182: Liu Xie and Liu Bei

Let’s not mention how Cao Cao’s camp displayed their fortune manifestations, causing the dragon’s form in Han’s capital, Chang'an, to weaken significantly. But just the appearance of Cao Cao’s coiled dragon left Liu Xie feeling increasingly wary.

Unlike Liu Bei, when Liu Xie saw Liu Bei manifesting the true form of a golden dragon, he could only feel jealousy and helplessness. The most frustrating thing for the emperor of Eastern Han was the reality that the throne passed through various members of the imperial clan, with one emperor following another, often chosen from among the clan members.

This meant that, in the late Eastern Han period, all imperial relatives were essentially potential candidates for the throne. Currently, Liu Bei was the most likely candidate among those contenders. So, when the golden dragon manifested, Liu Xie could only think that, in the end, the benefits stayed within the Liu family and had nothing to do with outsiders.

However, Cao Cao’s coiled dragon manifestation was different. It signified that Cao Cao would rise to an ultimate position of power. Whether that position was as emperor or as prime minister depended entirely on the emperor’s magnanimity.

If Liu Xie were an emperor with the grandeur of past dynasties, the coiled dragon would pose no threat. After all, a truly great emperor could control even a coiled dragon or even a true dragon. Such an emperor would see the coiled dragon as a natural part of his realm.

But Liu Xie did not possess such imperial grandeur. To put it plainly, Liu Xie was smart, but only in small ways. His character was also too cold and lacking in warmth.

Therefore, when Liu Xie saw Cao Cao’s coiled dragon manifestation, his immediate thought wasn’t that Cao Cao would become an ultimate minister. Instead, he feared that Cao Cao would seize his throne.

This small difference in mindset caused a rift between Liu Xie and Cao Cao, damaging their previously decent relationship.

As for Guan Yu’s Azure Dragon, that was different. As a sacred spirit, the Azure Dragon was always a symbol of protection for the country. There had never been a case of an Azure Dragon usurping the throne. So, when Liu Xie saw Guan Yu’s dragon, he classified it as a pillar of the nation, despite its proud demeanor.

In the eyes of ancient emperors, only the golden dragon represented the emperor. Other dragons did not pose a threat to the golden dragon, unlike the more dangerous entities that hadn’t yet fully manifested. Since dragons take their shape according to their nature, an Azure Dragon was a protector, while a fire dragon would signal destruction.

Only the resplendent golden dragon symbolized the emperor. In fact, the so-called golden dragon was the yellow dragon. Other dragons, when encountered by the emperor, were seen as talents, not threats.

As for the coiled dragon, it’s complicated. All dragons that hadn’t ascended were collectively referred to as coiled dragons. However, the coiled dragon wasn’t strictly defined by the Five Virtues; some might remain as coiled dragons for life, while others could one day ascend into golden dragons. Who could say?

Thus, to Liu Xie, Cao Cao’s coiled dragon was a significant threat. After all, the coiled dragon was also known as the “hidden dragon,” a creature waiting to soar.

All of this was incredibly frustrating for Liu Xie. It was especially aggravating when a dozen beams of fortune descended upon Cao Cao’s subordinates, causing their fortunes to manifest. None of those fortunes belonged to Liu Xie’s own men.

To Liu Xie, those people weren’t Han subjects—they were Cao Cao’s men. Especially after seeing Cao Cao’s coiled dragon, Liu Xie no longer considered Cao Cao a minister of the Han.

Liu Xie always believed he was the one true emperor of the Han Dynasty, and everything should belong to him. But the reality was far from that. When the lights of fortune brazenly displayed themselves at his first Grand Court Assembly, it felt like a slap in the face.

Seeing Guan Yu’s Azure Dragon, Xun Yu’s Qilin, Dian Wei’s Xingtian, Cao Cao’s coiled dragon, and even Cao Hong manifesting a Pixiu, Liu Xie was consumed with rage—absolute fury!

He was furious at the heavens, furious at his own inadequacies, and angry that his ministers ignored him. After witnessing all the bizarre fortune manifestations, Liu Xie furiously waved his sleeve and left the hall. Little did he know that with that single gesture, the dragon fortune over Chang'an became even thinner.

Even Liu Bei understood that the golden dragon fortune over Ji Province represented him. The fortune was the combined manifestation of the fortune of the people, officials, and capable ministers under his rule, but it belonged to him alone.

This was the source of Liu Bei’s confidence. Though he would never aim for the throne or overstep his bounds, he knew that, within the five provinces he controlled, no one but him deserved to enjoy that golden dragon’s fortune.

Chen Xi had never sworn allegiance to him, and Liu Bei knew this well. However, he didn’t mind. From the start, Chen Xi had guided him down the most righteous path.

"Nothing is more important than strengthening oneself and mastering every bit of power you possess," Chen Xi had once taught Liu Bei. And Liu Bei had learned exactly that.

As a result, Liu Bei had mastered the art of rewarding merit, punishing wrongs, and holding onto military power. Though he might not involve himself deeply in governance, he firmly controlled the five provinces under his rule.

By placing the right people in the right positions and not restricting them, Liu Bei could focus on what he excelled at. He didn’t need to master the manipulative strategies of a monarch, but a leader was still needed. Even if not everyone recognized him as their leader, as long as he held the power of leadership, it was enough.

"Before the line is crossed, you must endure, but once it’s crossed, do not hesitate. While I value material things, they aren’t essential," Chen Xi had taught Liu Bei this approach to leadership, which seemed almost too casual for a ruler.

While gentleness could unite people, decisiveness was necessary at times. It was fine to be underestimated or overlooked, but when the moment came, the ruler must step forward and wield their authority. You didn’t need to constantly assert your presence, but always remember that the sharpest sword lay in your hands.

Stay humble, keep a low profile, but the sword must always be in hand. Only then will your words carry weight. Don’t concern yourself with arguments or advice; anyone who tries to take the sword from you is an enemy. Whether they claim to be helping you or have other reasons, you must hold onto that sword!

With the sword in hand and virtue around you, you are the ruler. All else is secondary. Whether it's benevolence or virtue, just do what needs to be done.

Only by holding the sword can your benevolence be true. Without the sword or the strength to uphold your ideals, your kindness would be false. Using benevolence to wield the sword makes it the sword of a king.

Liu Bei didn’t understand the intricacies of imperial politics. His delegation of power seemed absurd to Cao Cao, but Liu Bei gained the unwavering loyalty of his subordinates and fully embraced Chen Xi’s teachings. This too was a kind of royal wisdom, simpler and more suited to a man like him.

Thus, Liu Bei could confidently declare that he was the true ruler of Qing, Xu, Ji, Yan, and Yu provinces. He was the undisputed leader. He never relinquished control of the military or the power to reward and punish. As long as he held onto these, no one could shake his position.

This was why Liu Bei’s presence in the administration seemed minimal, with Chen Xi handling most of the governance. Liu Bei understood that no one was better suited than Chen Xi to handle the affairs of the state. He also knew that even if he left all civil matters to Chen Xi, it wouldn’t change their relationship.

This confidence came from knowing that even though Chen Xi had taught him a different kind of imperial wisdom, no one, not even someone in Chen Xi’s position, could threaten Liu Bei’s authority.

This was the confidence of a true ruler. Even if he delegated all matters of economy, civil governance, culture, and diplomacy, Liu Bei knew that if worst came to worst, he could always fight another battle and win. Things wouldn’t be any harder than they were when they started building Taishan.

And even then, it wasn’t as if all those other non-military areas would rebel against him. That was simply impossible. Liu Bei didn’t need to concern himself with those matters as long as he maintained control over the military and the power to reward and punish.

Liu Bei had once given Chen Xi the authority to appoint officials within the five provinces, though Chen Xi usually only handled the appointment of low-ranking officials. Moreover, Chen Xi rarely involved himself in military promotions, limiting himself to recommendations. Though it was a formality, everyone knew Chen Xi’s suggestions were as good as set in stone.

As a result, Liu Bei seemed quiet and uninvolved, but he maintained absolute control over the military. Besides Zhao Yun, none of the military commanders frequently appeared around Chen Xi. Chen Xi had always upheld the principle of not mixing military and civil affairs.

This had become Liu Bei’s principle as well. Now, he rarely appeared in the administrative offices, but he could recognize every officer in his command down to the rank of battalion commander. That level of personal involvement was astonishing!

Chen Xi hadn’t even met all the officials at the county level, but Liu Bei could already recognize every military officer from the rank of battalion commander upward. He could even recite each one’s achievements when appointing a new officer.

At this point, if anyone could stage a coup and overthrow Liu Bei, Chen Xi would be the first to concede defeat. This level of connection was something even historical emperors like Chai Rong or Li Shimin couldn’t surpass. When those mid-level officers realized that Liu Bei knew each of them by name, they were moved to tears...

They nearly pledged on the spot that they would be the first to charge into battle and the last to retreat. Liu Bei’s army was truly loyal to him, and Chen Xi suspected that Liu Bei spent so much time in the barracks just to get to know everyone.

This was the foundation of Liu Bei’s confidence and what set him apart from Liu Xie. Liu Bei never felt the need to hold all the power in his hands. He only needed to control the forces that could safeguard him and ensure his domain operated according to his vision.

Other powers weren’t important to Liu Bei. As long as he controlled the authority to reward and punish under the protection of his military strength, he could wield it without hesitation. Although Liu Bei felt that as long as Chen Xi was alive, he wouldn’t need to worry about the civil administration.

Of course, though Liu Bei didn’t interfere with governance, he would occasionally remind people of his presence. He didn’t expect to provide any brilliant solutions, but he would still present challenges. After all, there was no better way to show relevance than by posing problems.

Most of the time, the issues Liu Bei raised were quickly solved, or they took a little time to resolve, but he continued to enjoy doing so. After all, Chen Xi had told him that pointing out problems meant there was room for improvement.

Therefore, Liu Bei primarily focused on maintaining military morale and observing the people's livelihood. His methods were simple: he would stroll through the barracks to steady the troops and wander around the cities and villages to understand the people’s lives.

Liu Bei was quite average in appearance, save for his long arms, and since he had once been a common soldier and a seller of straw sandals, he didn’t need to pretend. His down-to-earth nature allowed him to easily blend in with the common people and soldiers.

When Liu Bei wanted to gather real information, he simply engaged in casual conversation. He’d ask a villager for a bowl of water, chat about the year’s harvest, inquire about life, and soon enough, he’d know everything he needed.

Since Liu Bei had reached the cultivation level of "Refined Qi into the Gang" (training to a refined state), he didn’t have to worry about being harmed. Having been part of the working class himself, he knew how to speak in a way that wouldn’t reveal his true identity, so he was rarely recognized.

Because Liu Bei traveled so much, it was difficult to hide the true conditions of his domain from him. When he discovered issues, he would approach Li You for solutions. If Li You couldn’t resolve them, then he’d turn to Chen Xi. Over the years, the only real challenge Liu Bei had faced was figuring out how to handle corruption...

Therefore, whether Chen Xi manifested a gigantic nine-tailed fox or even a golden dragon, Liu Bei wouldn’t care much. He was that confident!

This was one of Chen Xi’s great successes after arriving in the Han Dynasty. Though he hadn’t explicitly pushed for a separation between military and civil governance, Liu Bei had instinctively moved in that direction. While the two hadn’t been completely split, there was now a clear division of responsibilities.

This was a good outcome. However, Chen Xi was also aware of the drawbacks. Sometimes, the power to make decisions needed to be delegated. As a result, Chen Xi tried to maintain a semi-separation between military and civil governance without entirely preventing individuals from holding authority in both.

As for the future, Chen Xi had a clear understanding. Historical experiences were no longer sufficient to guide them. The political environment would determine the future governance system. As Chen Xi changed the era, the era was also shaping Chen Xi.

Chen Xi wasn’t sure exactly where Liu Bei’s future path would lead, but he was satisfied with Liu Bei’s current state. If Liu Bei maintained his present course, Chen Xi was confident that he could show Liu Bei what it meant to surpass his ancestors.

This was Chen Xi’s self-confidence. Just as he wasn’t worried that Liu Bei would ever turn against him, he focused on his work, and Liu Bei did what he needed to do. Both worked toward the same goal and stood in the same trench.

What is trust? Neither Liu Bei nor Chen Xi knew the exact answer, and Liu Xie certainly didn’t either. But both Liu Bei and Chen Xi understood the complexities of their relationship, while Liu Xie remained in the dark. This was why Chen Xi would never test Liu Bei, and Liu Bei, wielding his sword of power, would never test Chen Xi.

Liu Bei was confident that Chen Xi’s sword would never be aimed at him, even though Liu Bei didn’t know where Chen Xi’s sword was. Similarly, Chen Xi was confident that Liu Bei’s sword would not be turned on him. He could see Liu Bei’s sword clearly—it was the people’s trust, the military’s loyalty, and the kingly heart of a ruler.

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